Author's Note:
Okay so chapter 12 is here, and with several hundred words of chapter 14 typed up. This is a pretty long one, and the plotline will really begun to shape up after here. Based on where I'm at we should get to post Underground in a few months to half a year varying on my schedule. That'll be fun...
So please enjoy and follow if you like where I'm going with this little fic.
Chapter Twelve: Calm Moments
A…dream again? Guess almost dying triggered a "nice" bit of sleep induced hallucination.
"KRIS!" I focused on the sudden appearance of a bundled up piece of blanket I front of me. I blinked at the sudden emergence of a bleary eyed preteen…they looked visibly healthier than before. Not as rail thin and pale…
They stared right at me…with what looked like an expression of pure hate. Fear gripped me an I scrambled back. A sense of wrongness flooding into the room…
Their fingers curled in and out with twitch…that unsettled me…
Urk?!
I found a hand in my chest, confusion and panic the only emotions I could feel. Only a me to hear the harsh and failing beating of my heart and the wheezing of my lungs.
Kris…they…it stared back at me…tilting its head with a smile on its face. Despite the darkening spot in their own chest, the dark blood soaking their shirt and standing the wooden floor.
I could hear two…beating hearts…one was mine and the other was…was…was…
"Get out…" I couldn't breathe, and I writhed in sudden agony, struggling to pull myself free.
"I…"
Their face was indescribable. "GET OUT GET OUT GET OOUUTTT!"
"Errr…oh gods…" my bones ached as I slipped off my bed, my HP taking an insignificant hit.
…what the fuck had that been?
It looked like…it was Deltarune's Kris instead of ours? Though the difference in appearance was rather negligible.
Either way it didn't explain their attempted murder of me…probably… I had a few ideas actually…
The ending of Chapter 1 didn't paint a pretty picture…
Hmm…is…that someone's feet?
Their…bare? Kind of small and effeminate(still bigger than mine…) darker skinned, and wiggling their toes?
Too big to be Kris's since they have itty bitty baby feet…so it must be Frisk.
I inched myself forward and then leaned back until I fell straight on my ass. Now I was sitting criss-cross applesauce like I had gotten into habit to…for the last ten years.
I had to look at Frisk from above, and I took her in with blurred vision, still not fully awake.
Now that I checked…I think Frisk was wearing just boxers and a shirt again. A checker pattern with a loose black t shirt. And I could just see the straps of her bra peeking out.
Light blue apparently…
"Did I wake you?" I asked her with a faint hope that I didn't. Making a pretty woman mad in the morning sounded like recipe for disaster.
She beamed and I felt heat rush into my cheeks. "Nope! Just wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out? Kris decided to bounce, she's made friends with Susie and Noelle."
That's good? A kid deserves to have friends who'll have her back…not too keen on whether or not Susie would be that friend…but she managed after…lots of coaxing in Deltarune.
But neither of them are the same person are they?
I blinked, ridding myself of my thoughts. Existential questions were best left for another day.
"That sounds okay…? Were you thinking right now or?" She laughed a bit, her nose scrunching up in the cutest way.
"N-No you still need to change and so do I."
Oh…right…
"Could you leave for a couple of minutes? I…" a good whiff of my body told me I needed a good shower too.
So I had to get on that.
"Ohhh…right, sorry." I shrugged at Frisk's apology, it wasn't a big deal.
"It's okay…so uh shoo?" Frisk snorted but did my bidding, shutting the door behind her.
…
…
"Now where did I put my clothes again?"
I eagerly bit into my egg and ham breakfast burrito, having made two of them for myself. Frisk had herself a sandwich instead, and was drinking water instead of orange juice like yours truly.
Frisk had kept her loose black shirt on, but put on a pair of sweatpants and blue-white Nike's sneakers.
I had gone with a green shirt with a small pocket on my right, and worn blue jeans with elevated sport shoes.
"You alright buddy?" Frisk waves her hand in front of my face, a smirk of amusement forming. "You're looking a little…distracted." I glared at her and she backed off with bemusement dancing in her gorgeous eyes.
"Shut up." I growled out a response, a sudden wave of anger hitting me at full force. Frisk backed down with a girly giggle and I sighed.
"Sorry…it's just cute how flustered you get with Chara and I." I raised an eyebrow in question, and her smirk became smirkier. "Well…you're pretty easy to read. Hell you're probably constantly complimenting us in your own head."
I blushed…deeply, unable to deny her light accusations.
She tilted her head, eyes sparkling with glee.
"U-Uh…I'm sorry? It's hard…to focus sometimes…you're both…very pretty."
Frisk snorted, a light blush on her own face. "Oh my god! You really are too dorkish sometimes."
I felt like I was only digging an ever deeper hole. Making me an even bigger dwarf than I was already was…
"Please stop…" I took a bite out my burrito to keep myself from saying more stupid things. Why did Frisk have to enjoy teasing me?
An arm suddenly found itself around my waist, and I was pulled in close. I leaned my head to the side, being careful to not…touch something I shouldn't.
I barely even reached above chest level…
"Ahh that's okay! It's really flattering, Hell even Chara thinks so, since you're so earnest about it. And you don't expect anything…you just want our friendship."
That made me sound better than I really was…
Frisk dragged me with a flourish of her free hand, sparkles of green(the best color) raining down. "So the two of us are going to hang out, if that's okay?"
"There's no problem with that."
Not sure why there would be…we're friends aren't we?
Wait…what did Frisk say about Chara?
"You said something about Chara?" I instantly regretted speaking up, upon closely examining the wide smirk on Frisk's face.
She pulled me in closer, and I found it rather difficult to squirm out of her grip. It was like trying to push past a damn brick wall!
"Oh…you think Chara doesn't like compliments?" I tried to escape but continued to fail in my attempts. "It's pretty rare for anyone to be willing to approach her. So she certainly likes you."
I-I what?
She still looked rather cheeky. "Platonically of course…unless you want something more eh?" She suggestively waggled her eyebrows and I finally cracked.
"S-Shut UP!" Magic flared out and Frisk screeched at the sudden electrical shock.
I dropped my face into my palms, feeling utterly mortified at my reaction. I hadn't meant to use my magic on Frisk like that…
"I'm so sorry…I didn't…?" Laughs and chuckles started escaping from Frisk and I looked on with a probably puzzled expression.
"Hehehehe…oh my god! Hehehehehe…snrrtt" Frisk's nose curled up in the sweet fashion I had taken a liking toward, and her snort was just as cute. Her sides were shaking, and she hid her eyes behind her right hand.
Oh my god she's gorgeous…!
"Err…sorry…? I felt embarrassed as she kept laughing, tears running down her face. She brushed them away with a final adorable snort. "I…I'm…sooo…sorry I just…didn't think you would attack…me." She let out another laugh and with a burning face I slugged her shoulder.
I had to jump up to reach her…
"Frisk."
She coughed, hiding her mouth behind her hand. "Okay okay I'll stop."
"You better." She smiled with a twinkle in her eye. Once my anger had fled, I had decided to look around again.
Again…the Underground was much larger than I previously thought. The stone carved buildings easily rose for well over a hundred meters into the air, and light seemed to flood out from many of the high Roman arching buildings.
I could pick out what looked like shops and small indoor parks, green grass and small bodies of clear water scattered about. They had certainly done their best to make the Underground as comfortable as possible. A happy monster was probably a healthy monster too.
"It's really nice isn't it?" Frisk had a hopeful look on her face. Her eyes wide with life and determination.
Which made sense…but there was something missing from this picture.
"Still doesn't feel right to me." She frowned, though it turned to understanding. I gave her a sad smile. "They're still not free…even though they deserve to be."
I wasn't the best at expressing compassion for other people. Feeling sympathy and at least…understanding how others people feel…is one thing. But going out and acting on it…is another thing entirely.
But these people…these monsters…made me want to be better…so I took it one step at a time.
I let Chara train me, to get better at magic…so that we could break the barrier. I did a little more at h—my place of residence…cooked for myself, cleaned up after myself.
Something I should've started doing a long time ago.
Frisk bumped hips with me, her eyes shutting with her wide smile. She snapped her fingers two times. "Hey focus on the here and now okay? Don't get caught up in stuff from the future too much…it's not healthy."
Right…
I pursed my lip thinking back to why we were out here. I tripped her sleeve for second and she smiled. "We…were supposed to hang out right? Just relax…"
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Well…that's the idea."
I eyed the area around me, until I spotted a shop hidden in a small…but safe alley.
Grandpa Semi's Bookstore
"How about there? That looks like a really quaint little shop."
Frisk cocked her head in amusement. "Yep. Let's go there then."
As we swung open the door, a bell rung signaling our arrival into the medium sized bookstore.
There were easily hundreds of books of all kinds neatly organized in their bookcases. There were many wooden tables set up doe customers could sit and read their purchased products.
—Play Chill Buster by NyxTheShield—
A lovely lofi version of Rude Buster(among the first Deltarune songs I enjoyed) played throughout the building. My head lightly bobbed to the sick beats, and I walked faster eyeing the man manning the counter.
I blinked dumbly…rubbing my eyes at seeing what looked like an older Papyrus wearing a fedora. He wore a blue turtleneck under a dark brown trench coat, and a pair of identically colored slacks.
He looked much like a Noir Papyrus or the early neckbeard version of him…though with an older grandpa flare added. He smiled widely and beckoned us to come closer.
"Come in. Come in. You must be the humans that my family has spoken about." I felt a smile on my face at his voice. It wasn't as loud as Papyrus or as soft spoken as Gaster. It was a healthy medium, his voice smooth and velvety…in that 1920s Noir way.
Kinda…like a Noir Spider-Man.
"Are…you talking about Papyrus and sans?" His bones rattled in amused excitement.
"Oh! There's no reason to forget my little Wings…" he waved his hand with a light chortle.
Wait…little Wings? Is he talking about Gaster?!
"Hah! Is that what you call Gaster?!" A chuckle got caught in Frisk's throat, and I gave her a poke in her side. A high pitched squeal escaped her, and I poked her a second time. "EEEEEHH! S-Stop it!" I smirked, feeling elated to get my sweet revenge.
He…Semi had crossed his arms watching us closely. He looked satisfied with whatever he had seen, leaping into action. "Well, he is my baby boy after all…"
"You're Gaster's father then?" It was interesting to meet someone who had ceased to be in the original Undertale timeline…especially when he looked like an old version of Papyrus.
"Yep! I raised him since he was a baby…even after a few decades he's still the same little troublemaker. He makes this old bag of bones proud."
Frisk made a very accurate impression of a an innocent puppy. "You don't seem very old Mister…"
Semi snorted…somehow. "I fought in the war alongside Asgore's father." He answered plainly and honestly, and Frisk's eyes widened like saucers.
Well…that would make him…over one thousand years old? Wonder what took him so long to have kids? He couldn't find a skeleton? Didn't find the one?
It's none of my business anyway…
I remembered what we had came for in the first place."That's certainly impressive…you wouldn't mind us looking around your bookstore right?"
His eyes narrowed in glee, and he wildly gesticulated with his hands. "Well of course there's no trouble. Just as long as you pay for something you're free to look around."
I fished for money in my pockets before remembering…
Right…
Alright…I've got about 200G…somehow? When did I?…never mind.
"Okay, thank you." I had gotten into the habit of thanking workers over the past year and a half. I thought it would be polite since they were helping me…
I wandered deeper into the store, the scent of books hitting me. Frisk was just on my heels, and she seemed to be purposely taking small steps.
Made sense…with legs like those, she'd trip over me real quick…
"So what made you want to just hang out? You bored or what?" I asked the question while I targeted the fiction section. Frisk rolled her shoulders, her usual half smile shrinking.
"Well…a little…but I honestly do want to be friends with you. You seem like a cool dude…if a little nerdy. But then again Chara's a bit of a nerd too."
Oh she totally is. She gets real chatty, and will basically monologue for like an hour straight if you give her the chance. Which I don't mind at all, it'd be hypocritical otherwise. Since I do the exact same thing.
"You're smiling little buddy." I poked at my face, noting that I was…
That's…odd…I usually only do that for things I really li—
Oh.
Guess that makes sense…Chara's great…
I felt a sudden burst of pain and rubbed by forehead, accidentally grabbing the long feminine finger responsible. I played it off with a scowl, Frisk giving me a wide smirk.
"I guess you were thinking bout Chara?" I shrugged, hoping that Frisk would leave well enough alone. I had enough shit to work out trapped in another parallel reality.
"Frisk not now please." She rolled her eyes but accepted my demand. I went on ahead with what we had come here for in the first place.
I read the title on the spines of the various books, most varying widely in thickness and color.
Some titles were recognizable, likely human written texts from the surface. A lot of them were old human classics in my time. Hell they had a 1990 edition of Jurassic Park. That book would be well over a hundred years old by their time. Yet it was in mint condition…and I sensed some type of spell overlaying every book in the room.
Some type of preservation spell maybe? Tailor made to keep them in…well good condition. Wonder if that would be some type of Reinforcement magic…if it was. That meant I could do it myself, just needed a way to make a long lasting spell.
"You a fan of science fiction?" Frisk swayed from side to side with a friendly glimmer in her eye.
"Fantasy's okay too…though I guess we'd be living in both those categories right?
Frisk nodded unsurely. "Why's that?"
I gave her a disbelieving expression. "Seriously? Magical powers, magical races, time travel, dimension hopping, and super advanced space technology. Kris was born on a Stanford Torus colony! That would require ten million tons of material to build. Space infrastructure on. massive scope and scale."
Frisk coughed, a hint of a blush on her face. "Ahh…that's fair. I guess living in ye olden times, would make this…a little weird. That stuff's normal for me you know?" She shoulder shrugged, her palms up with an "ehmm…" expression.
"Which is why it's so cool. You're supposed to make what was once something relegated to fiction into something mundane. That's what science and engineering does, when backed by people with the right mindset."
She leaned back, a hint of something behind her eyes. "Your…really…passionate about science huh?"
I nodded profusely, looking back to find any nice books to buy. The mint condition Jurassic Park would certainly be mine. It would make a nice replacement for my old and unfortunately degrading copy. Frisk had gotten into the whole books thing, looking through the rows for something to interest her.
When I grabbed the book however, I felt a strange tingle pass through my body. Mana instinctually flowed into my eyes and I blinked at the small screen in front of me.
Jurassic Park 25G
My metaphysical pockets suddenly felt lighter, and a spell suddenly shattered. A feeling of ownership of the book overcame me.
Huh…neat.
I followed the sound of paper pages being turned, and found Frisk presiding over a little black book with an…odd expression.
"What are you reading?" Frisk yelped and hid the book behind her back. I stepped closer and she hissed, a flash of red emanating from her skin.
"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" I chuckled and tried to get behind her. But each and every time I reached for the book to check it out. Frisk dodged me…
I smirked and…
Pull…
In her shock, she lost her grip on the book and turned pale. She tried to tackle me only for a large green barrier off my own making blocking her way.
"Got it…" I muttered out while she slipped against the wall. I ignored her squeals of protest and embarrassment.
A Passionate Ballad of Humans and Monsters
By Unknown
Some…type of novel? I guess…?
I skipped to the page that Frisk was reading. Whatever was on it seemed to throw her off her game more than anything else in the Underground.
I growled as I pressed Amaya against wall, covering up her sultry moans and hiding us away from the peeping eyes of humans and monsters alike. She quivered against my heavy fit frame, her swelling breasts heaving as her scarlet eyes dilated with passion and desire. Her tongue licked over the sharp beautiful fangs that I loved…
Amaya's lips uttered two simple words that made me run wild. "Azarath…please…take me!" I lowered my hands, ready to guide my hard th—
I threw the book through the barrier and right into Frisk's face, my face blooming in burning scarlet red as I figured out what type of book she was reading. She crumpled to the ground, whimpering and hiding her face from me…
"Frisk…" she groaned. "Frisk…What the fuck girl!"
She curled up into a ball, and protested. "H-Hey shut up! Everyone has their own tastes man!" I palmed my face, agitation surging in and feeling flabbergasted by the Hawaiian Filipino mixed girl.
"Then don't read freaking smut in a public bookstore!" I hissed angrily, not wanting anyone to hear us out loud.
"Mhmmm…But I need this book."
I stepped back warily. "Why?" She went silent…
The silence dragged on and the atmosphere became increasingly suffocating and awkward…
You know…sometimes I forget that Frisk and Chara are still human beings with all that entails. I really didn't want to think about that, this early in the morning.
I coughed. "Oh…I guess I understand…but…uh…umm…" she stayed silent, her face and neck flushed so much I worried she would pass out. I tapped my fingers together, the hear not leaving my own…face. "N-Nevermind…just forget it."
"I'm sorry? I guess…you wouldn't want to know about that. You seem a rather modest sort."
In public anyway…
"It's…alright, just let's not talk about this anymore." She agreed wholeheartedly.
…
…
We can still look for other books right?
We…should go do that…
(Frisk's POV)
Stupid. Stupid…stupid… STUPID IDIOT!
What the hell was I thinking? Reading fucking smut like some sex crazed freak…
I nearly ran into Brandon as he stopped all of sudden with a sympathetic expression. I turned red as I realized he had sensed my feeling through magic…
I usually suppressed them…so no one would know.
"Are you…doing okay? You seem a little…off?"
I denied any problems. "I'm good, just…a little you know?"
"I understand…I think?" The rest of his reply degraded into mutterings and I giggled.
He really mutters a lot.
"Uhh…" I pulled out another book, one that wouldn't make me seem like a pervert.
After Man
A Zoology of the Future
By Douglas Dixon
The book pictured three strange but familiar animals on the cover. Two deer…buck things with pointy…or flat faceplate…horn things. Being threatened by…a thin legged cat like creature…but it wasn't a cat. Brandon bounced on his feet, taking a close look of the book.
He was smiling softly, a hint of interest in his brown eyes. "Ooo…that's a pretty classic book nowadays. Douglas Dixon started the whole…speculative evolution and biology trend. I've seen a few projects, like Serina and the Speculative Dinosaur Project."
"What are they?" He looked like a baby who had been handed candy…or a shark thrown some meaty chum. Hard to tell…
"Well Serina was some guys thought experiment on a terraformed planet with only one large land vertebrate, the rest being snails, ants, crickets, some species of live bearing fish."
He had paused, raising his eyebrows up and down, waiting.
I rolled my eyes. "What was it?"
"Thank you for asking!" He shuffled his feet, his eyes glowing an electric purple. "The animal they chose…" he paused dramatically and I sighed. He pouted and opened his mouth. "The domestic canary! Jazz hands…" he did so with his mentioned hands and I felt joy at how exciting he was acting.
"So he got a cute little canary and made it evolve…?"
He shrugged with a small goofy grin. "Basically…think I can get the website from my phone…"
The guy made a whole website just for a canary planet?!
"Hmm…maybe I can get this book for Chara, she'd probably like that sorta thing." He agreed vehemently, though his hands twitched for the book. He…he's actually pretty goofy when he wants to be. His faces are hilarious…and adorbs.
I found another book that caught my interest…
Lord of the Ring…I think I read this when I was little…l'll read it again.
"Don't think I've read that before…but I've seen parts of movies."
"Wait! There are movies?" He nodded. I quickly purchased my book(s) and stored them away in my inventory. Brandon looked behind me to a quiet space with tables and comfy looking seats.
That'll be a nice place to relax for a half hour.
I held a cup of steaming sugary sweet coffee I had gotten from a coffee machine while Brandon bought a soft drink, gently opening the can with a hiss of escaping pressure. He took a sip…shaking the drink around.
"Hey…since this is monster food. Why do they hiss? It's not like they're made of regular matter."
"Because…because." Any answer fell away as I paid more thought to his question. "You know what I have no idea."
"Thought so. But then again monsters don't have to obey the all the laws of physics. Being made out of magic and dust."
That's true.
"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves…most of the time the youth come in and don't even buy anything." Semi blinked into existence, his voice reminding me of an old 20s mob boss. Don't really get why Gaster's family has such weird accents.
Brandon rolled his shoulders, getting a crick out of his neck. "This place is really nice. It's quiet and has a good range of different books. And…there's something else I can feel here too…you must love your job a lot huh?"
Semi showed his teeth, happiness flowing from him. "Why of course child. I have been working this shop for…a few hundred years now? Humans may not be perfect…but they are certainly skilled writers."
"I suppose they are…" Brandon took a seat next to me, the little guy had been standing since we arrived to the internal coffee shop.
Semi did the same…an inquisitive feeling coming from him…
"If you two young ones wouldn't mind? I have some questions for you…" Brandon and me…I shared a glance, and agreed to Semi's questions.
"Your are friends of my grandchildren correct?"
Brandon perked up, his hair shifting with the movement. "I'd like to think so…but it's only been about a week. They seem like nice enough people…"
"Papyrus and Sans are good boys, even if the eldest is a lazybones. Gaster and…err they have been raised well." We pointedly ignored the older skelly's misstep, he definitely had a right to his privacy. "Yes where was I?"
"Asking more questions?" Brandon helped the old monster out.
"Ahh yes…on the surface, what are your homelands like?" I had the answers for that…for my home anyhow
"Well…Iceland…is a really small country, with less humans than there are monsters. Outside of Ebbot Town they take care of their own. They're mostly Scandinavian…you know Vikings and stuff…technically I'm an immigrant to this place. I'm actually pretty mixed."
"Vikings…Ohh you mean the Norse!" Semi grinned with a nostalgic expression. "I know them quiet well. They were a clean civilized people…and rather less rank than the rest of Europe."
Wait what? Since when were Vikings clean?
Brandon chuckled with mirth. "Uh…since always? Vikings are just a subset of the Norse, and were in fact rather vain and clean for the time period." He strutted his history buffness, his chest puffing up. He flashed a dorky grin of victory…
Too bright.
Semi openly boomed with laughter, before shaking his head and getting serious for a bit. "Now, for young Brandon. What is your home like?"
My brunette friend was quiet for a moment, the gears in his head visibly turning as he gathered up his courage.
"Well…the United States of America…is a big country…325 million people across 50 states and several territories. Each state unique in their own way, whether for better or worse. Freedom is a important part of its culture…often in detriment to common sense. And it hasn't been…at its best in recent years."
"How so?" Brandon looked uncomfortable with the inquiry and I almost stepped in.
"Well…a constant struggle between two groups has kinda broken out. Mostly politically thankfully…but…not always." At that his face twisted into disgust and contempt. "One group wants things to regress…to go back to the "good old days" he made air quotes to emphasize himself and I had a sinking feeling.
A history book that detailed the late 2010s and the early 2020s in America…
If our two worlds shared enough similarities then…it wasn't good. There was a lot of troubles for the country during that time.
Semi leaned back. "I'm guessing that the good old days are anything but…"
"Yeah…" Brandon looked despondent, and I looked at Semi hoping he could help.
He scrambled to help, blurting out the right words. "If you would like, I could tell you about what the Underground truly is like."
Brandon snapped out his funk, a shine in his eyes and a song in his heart.
"Really?" For a moment, I thought back to a chihuahua for some reason at his head tilt. "You wouldn't mind would you? Chara's told me about stuff from before the War…but after. I'll find it equally interesting."
Semi had a nostalgic look again, though he returned to the present with a light coaxing from me.
"While most of us call this place, the Kingdom of Monsters. Officially we are the Delta Kingdom. A Constitutional Monarchy made up of well over six hundred thousand monsters…"
My eyes bulged at the information, my mind racing to full speed.
W-Wait? But there are only a 100 thousand before this Run…how many more monsters exist because of us?
"So…Monsters would outnumber the human population of Iceland almost two to one."
Semi quieted at the clear and amused statement from Brandon. We both shared a look, feeling a little unsure of what to say to snap Semi out of his pauses… Semi started to laugh…a lot. He laughed and laughed until tears virtually dropped unbidden from his eye sockets.
"Oh god for the first time in a thousand years, a place where monster outnumber humans. And it only took us being sealed away for it to happen."
"Sorry?" Brandon apologized, sympathy thick in his voice.
Semi waved his concerns off. "No, no…it's much alright. Should we continue our conversation? It's been nice to talk with humans instead of fight." Brandon's face curled into a wide smile…
It is nice…and that smile reminded me of…Chara…
That idiot…wonder what she's doing now?
Erghh…probably sleeping off a hangover…if I know her well enough…
(Chara's POV)
I.
Felt.
Like.
Utter shit.
I sat miserably holding my head while I nursed the hangover I had given myself out of…stupid…pathetic…weakness…
The monsters near me moved around me with wary worried eyes, and a sense of self-consciousness hit me. I snuggled against the green hoodie sweater I was wearing, crossing my skirted black shorts. Adjusting my posture to fit the wooden bench.
This position…was oddly comfortable. I can see why Brandon liked it.
A splitting headache made me flinch and I forced myself to ignore it. Taking…a sip of a hangover "cure" that Azzy apparently had. It still wasn't having much of an effect…but it got rid of the headaches.
So that's something. I leaned back against the hard bench, letting out a sigh as my muscles and bones were loosened up sounding out with a loud crack.
I gazed at the very small…park with admiration. It was a small hill topped with grass fed by the streams of Waterfall. A few possibly magical apple trees dotted the little spot splitting off the straight path. Sometimes young monsters would pick fruit from them, taking bites out of the healthy fruit.
Congregating on a tree, with my form hidden by a distant bush, three children huddled close together. The tallest(who was taller than me by the way) kept nudging them back. Her yellow eyes darting between her two companions in confusion.
"You dorks are still here? Come on…bother someone else." Susie…insisted on being alone, but the humanoid deer monster and malnourished human child rebuked her.
It's too sweet and adorable…!
"H-Hey we can be friends! Y-You protected us from those…strange creatures. Someone who saved us like that is a good person." I was blinded by the brightness and childish admiration emitted from Noelle's eyes
Susie grumbled, and I chuckled under my breath as she denied the little deer monsters praises. Kris's face had flushed as they stared at the blonde girl. They snapped out of it, their silver pupils flashing for a second.
They smiled up at the purple girl. "Uh…Yeah…we…can be friends right?" Kris's lip quivered and Susie grumbled a second time.
"Alright fine! Just…quit looking at me like that!" The quivering and crocodile tears stopped and Susie visibly relaxed.
"Okay!" Kris goofily sticks out their tongue, saluting with a giggle. Susie groaned, muttering a complaint of some kind.
Noelle's nose twitched as a realization came to her. "Oh…Kris. You were telling us about…your magic…right?"
Kris nodded. "Y-Yeah…it's a bit hard to describe…and…it's kind of weird."
"C'mon, some magic isn't going to scare me."
Seems like Susie wanted to know too…
I felt strangely wistful at the nervousness and worry that Kris had. It brought me back to the old days…before this run…before the 2nd war. Before the six human SOULS, before Flowey…before the Resets.
When I was just a frightened kid, who didn't deserve the love and affection that this kingdom of monsters gave me…
The shifty eyed kid lit up, joy and hope splashing over their negative emotions. They straightened their stance, ready to elaborate. "My…magic…lets me hear…things…songs…like a CHECK. But just…more."
"Songs? Like from people?" Noelle inquired with an added head tilt.
Kris shook their head. "No…from anything actually…people…animals, plants, the air, letters, words and numbers. If it exists…it has a signature theme…you guys have one too."
That…wasn't what they had told us…
"Sounds like it'd be annoying as shit." Susie was rather blunt with her response.
Kris was silent, and goosebumps passed by…a hint of something going through me.
"A bit…Yeah…but I'm used to it…it's just how I am."
Noelle looked uneasy but steeled herself. "What…does it sound like?"
Kris shined even brighter, and it made me wonder what had her so scared…why would she be afraid of others knowing her power…her gift?
"Well…it's kinda of like…a nonstop conversation? And everyone's life song is so different…and beautiful…" Susie rolled her eyes, mainly to mask the interest she had. A bit of a Tsundere huh?
"What do our songs sound like? Or those…things…songs?"
That…is an excellent question Noelle.
"Is…is it okay if I just show you? Most…people outside of auntie didn't like it…or hated it." The two children stared at each with unreadable looks. Likely they didn't understand the idea of condemning magic, no matter what kind it was.
"Sure…why not?" Kris beamed and I could make out a song…some type metal riff?
—Play Susie—
Susie looked on in familiarity. "So, who's song is this?"
Kris smiled, hopping up onto their feet. "Your song, I heard it when we fought the Ravasha…" the two looked puzzled and I eavesdropped even more. "That's what those former beings are called…"
Susie looked like she had been complimented, standing with a prideful stance. "Hah…damn my theme is badass." I flinched at the sudden record scratch and the song cut away. The purple lizard girl growled, and Kris shrunk in on themselves.
The anger from the…strangely aggressive monster faded at the sudden terror in Kris's eyes. The quick and practiced shift to an empty stoic look threw off Susie and frightened me.
It was Noelle who broke the stalemate, her head swiveling continuously.
"Ravasha…"
Kris looked taller, their attitude going back to normal. "Those things from before…they…were singing too…but it was…so empty. Lifeless…soulless."
Noelle looked uncomfortable, softly running her fingers along a small crack along her horns. Susie's fists had tightened, the scars along her face more visible.
They were both attacked…hurt…frightened…and I had been getting drunk and fucking everything up…goddammit I'm no different from h—
"May I sit here?" When the voice broke in, it was only then that I noticed the fact I was shaking like a leaf.
A weak…pathetic leaf…
A finger snapped in front of me, and I blushed at my rudeness. I had been ignoring the monster who had asked me a question.
"Sure there's enough…room…" I trailed off, scanning the monster in front of me. She looked like she'd be a very distant(and prettier…) cousin to Aaron.
She had light brown skin, speckled with green scales along her arms, cheeks, and stomach. She wore a yellow halter top that covered her upper humanoid body, and showed off her considerable curves. Emerald green hair was curled on its end, ballpoint thin bangs of hair obscuring wide cyan eyes.
Stretching from where legs should be was a long slithering tail, the top half was the same brilliant shiny green as her bodily scales, while the bottom half was a lighter lined belly of yellowish green.
I focused on the cute, poorly handmade button that said "Waterfall"
Looked like something dad would make…
Chocolate brown eyes storming with genuine concern filled my vision as the women slithered up. She gave me a bright wholesome smile, her concern only growing as I didn't respond.
You know, if I was more like Frisk. I probably would have flirted with the monster lady by now.
Then again she'll flirt with literally anything…
"Ahem…yes you may." She did so with a wider smile, propelling herself upwards with a twitch of her writhing muscles.
The bench creaked under her considerable weight, all thirteen feet of her long sinuous lower body dragging on the soft grass. She adjusted her positioning until the creaking stopped and she had a comfortable sit down on the bench.
With a grunt she dragged her tail to one side so it wouldn't get in the way, and once she was done brushed dirt from her top.
I looked away, frowning as I found the three kids now firmly out of my sight. They must have run off when I was distracted by…by…whoever she is?
I looked at her.
And she looked at me.
…
…
The silence was unbearable…
I lifted my legs off from the ground, wrapping my arms around them for comfort.
"You're one of the humans who fell down here right?" I was jolted out of my pity party by the snake…fish women?
I answered her. "Yes? And you are?" My inflection became somewhat aggressive and I grimaced.
I wasn't being too mean I hoped…I didn't mean to snap at her.
The water monster pointed to herself, a hint of pride entering her eyes. "Me? I'm Lamidae, the most junior member of the Delta Council!" She blushed over the use of junior, possibly realizing how it made her sound.
But…the hell is a Delta Council?
"I help run the Waterfall District in King Asgore's place. I hope…I've been doing a good job…" she muttered the last words out, probably not noticing I could hear her.
"Council…" some type of government structure?
She perked up with an award winning grin, as if she was used to answering questions. "The Delta Council is a group of seven monsters who help govern the five main sections of the Underground. Old Home and New Home have two councilors each, while the other districts such as this one only have one."
She posed dramatically and I had the odd compulsion to give her a hug and pat her head.
"So you're the Councillor for Waterfall?"
She nodded with closed eyes and a content look. "It's something I really love doing. First I protected the Underground as a Royal Guard, now I help them get what they need to do so."
"A warrior ehh?"
Lamidae smirked. "Oh very much so…I was once considered the second strongest monster in the Underground. Second only to the King himself…cept for tying with that riddle making old hag…" Guess people don't know Asriel is stronger than Asgore.
And who the hell is she talking about
"I kinda need proof of that, lady." I lightly challenged her, an equally large showing of teeth on my face.
She waved her hands in the air, her body language oozing of natural confidence and pride. "Then CHECK me human, I'm an honest country girl." She winked with a flirtatious expression and ignoring my growing blush I did…
* Lamidae ATK 90 DEF 75
* The Strongest Newbie.
* Wants to help you. No matter your race or creed.
Her playful nature receded, and she was more serious now. My body seizing up at the sudden whiplash in mood.
"You seem rather sad human…is something wrong?" My breath quickened as he tilted her body to the side son he get closer.
Maybe…she can help a bit…she seems like a nice enough monster.
"I've…been beating myself up a bit since yesterday." I yelped as she suddenly glided her hands over my arms, pulling the sleeves back as if to inspect something. "What the hell are you doing?"
She gave me an innocent look. "I don't see any marks on you…other than the scars but they're pretty old.
…
…
Oh.
"I didn't mean it literally." She had a face that read "Gotcha!" And I felt embarrassed at missing the joke…
"So you were gonna tell me something?" I nodded making up my mind for what I was going to do.
"I…had a bad day yesterday…ended up stupidly drunk because I was too weak to cope with it. I wasn't there when Kris and their two friends were…"
"Attacked by those alien creatures?" I sighed.
Of course she would know! She's a politician and someone being attacked would be important…
"Yeah six innocent people were almost killed because of me!" My voice turned shrill and that was when it happened.
A sense of calm entered the room, and I dully picked out the sensation of magic being used. Lamidae's flaring aura receded, and I was no longer as…moody.
"Why would you think that? You're not the cause of those creatures attacking people. They are neither of humans or monsters…just empty husks from some unknown place. And even if you weren't drunk, would you have been able to arrive in time?"
…I don't know…
"I just…don't want to feel like a fuck up all the time…" I told her the truth and she sighed.
"You're not…at the least you're not a any worse than anyone else." She patted my right shoulder in an act of comfort.
"Hmm…" I shook my head, still not feeling up to doing anything…
"Does this have to do with the Resets?"
"Come again?" She cocked an eyebrow and a hip(?) at the same time. Didn't take me long to figure out the cat was out of the bag. "I…wh—."
"Gaster told Asgore who told us. About that…abomination. But there are still things he left out. Not sure what, and I'm not going to pry but…"
"An endless…nightmare. That's all I have to say." I practically sunk into my hoodie, hiding the pain behind my eyes.
"I'm so sorry."
A bunch of empty platitudes aren't going to fix my trash dumpster of a psyche. But it's appreciated nonetheless.
"If you want…we can just talk?"
"About what?" I dryly replied to the…eel women?
She smiled not unkindly. "Anything, long as it's age appropriate." She whispered conspiratorially. "I mean there are children here…"
I laughed. Maybe I should introduce her to Brandon. I can already see the look on his face…she'll tease him into oblivion.
"Sure why not? It's better than feeling sorry for myself."
Still should probably be keeping an eye on those kids. To relieve my own worries at the very least…
We can walk and talk, I can look for the wonder trio that way.
Yeah…
(My POV)
I had learned a lot of neat facts about monsters with Semi. Guess when you're a thousand years old you learn a trick or two over the years. Mainly I've been given some lessons on Monster biology and physiology. Turns out he had overhead our talk about the sodas.
Now as everyone should or will know. Monsters are made up of lots of magic(or mana) and very small amounts of matter. While humans are made entirely out of matter. While the human SOUL is made up of pure concentrated mana, humans don't really need it to physically function like monsters.
Some hypothesize that without the subconscious strain of holding one's physical body together. The human SOUL can be much more powerful, and that along with Determination it gives them an even stronger advantage.
Besides that monster biology…is rather more alike to us than you could imagine…
They're also made up of cells…complex…Eukaryotic cells…the main difference being that most of what would make it that type of cell has been replaced by a holographic bundle of mana originating from an immense metaphysical core.
The SOUL if you would…
However to take form, they require a small amount of matter to build themselves around. Most of the time it's a mix of carbon, hydrogen, potassium and other organic molecules. Protected within a sheath of mana matter, which is why people like Grillby's can exist.
So evolution is still a thing here…though it's certainly unlike any form of evolution I've ever seen.
From what I can tell, the theory is that early monsters evolved from the LUCA branch of life. The last universal common ancestor of all life on earth. A mutation of an unknown eukaryotic organism that developed and split off from us hundreds of millions of years ago.
They essentially replaced most of their bodies with a mana substitute, splitting off into their own tree of life. To be specific basal monster cells are considered Manatrophic organisms. Absorbing mana for energy and building materials…for early basic cells anyway. Though I believe normal cells can do this as well in a less efficient manner. Like humans…
For whatever reason, possibly their bodies being unstable…they became floating clouds of cells made buoyant through mana telekinesis. Dominating the atmosphere without competing with other eukaryotes. Since they're more effectively able to traverse the skies due to their matter manipulation.
Strangely enough though…monsters remained in this primitive gas state long past the evolution of animals, with the earliest traces of a slimelike organism dating back to 230 million years ago.
A lot like the Moldsmal but lacking much of any true intelligence or sapience…which isn't saying much but still.
Monsters grew progressively more complex, in lockstep with other intelligent life. They grew and evolved quickly, with some theories pertaining to the evolution of whales, primates, and the smarter bird groups.
Some think it involved some type of gene transfer like scenario. Which would explain the high content of human, crow, parrot, dolphin, and orca DNA.
Horizontal gene transfer seems to be a thing with them…and their bodies being holograms helps.
I…
A fist lightly knocked on my forehead, and I shrunk back at the light smile Frisk was giving me. Something in that…smile frightened me more than Chara ever could.
Frisk lurched her body forward, and I did my best to ignore her…err…bountiful tracts of land…
"Uh sup Frisk?" I greeted her, hoping she wouldn't kill me.
"You got everything?" She pointed to the two books I was holding between my armpit and my…arm…?
Yep, it was a good idea to come to this place. The second book was a detailed scientific description of Monster and Human biology. It looked like a standard college book, so I didn't bother remembering the name.
Wonder how much this would be worth? The chance to study an alien biology, using a substance unlike anything on earth.
It'd send any scientist into shock…Frisk looks mad reboot!
I snapped my head up, giving Frisk a friendly grin. "Uh yeah…should put these away."
And away into the inventory you go!
Frisk gave a thumbs up, and then waved goodbye to Semi who was apparently starting his daily scheduled nap. We walked out of the library, and into the city of New Home.
From the common streets it looks like the day was in full swing, hundreds of monsters of all kinds and shapes moving and commuting to do…something I guess?
Probably work…wonder what kind of jobs they have…industrial engineering, architecture, construction. As well as all the service jobs…
Maintenance of the CORE maybe? A reactor that masses thousands of tons and outputs 10 trillion joules of energy every second would be…rather difficult to…maintain…
God it'd be a damn nightmare, the extremes of such a reactor would be like nowhere on Earth. We're talking about containing a continuous nuclear explosion, every second 2.63 kilotons of energy are being generated and then stored.
Somewhere…
Wonder what the hell Gaster is using all that power for? Depending on how long it's been around, we're talking continent busting energy levels here.
I blinked as Frisk tapped my shoulder, nudging me in the direction of…home… I slowly fell behind, my pace faltering.
…
Frisk turned back, a worried frown on her pretty face. A soft light emanating around her eyes.
"Tell me about them?"
"Huh?" She tapped my nose with a cheeky grin, and I flushed as she leaned back and forward in her heels.
Sometimes she was too cute…
Frisk blew a deep and long raspberry, looking at me like I was the person being dumb. "Your family silly! Maybe talking about it will help?"
It'd…be nice to tell someone about them…just to act normal for a change.
I nodded, directing myself and thus Frisk as she tagged along to a stone round table with…an umbrella on it. I'm…pretty sure it doesn't rain in New Home, then again this is the Underground.
I sat down, propping my arms against the table and resting my weary head on it. Frisk sat down next, laying her head down and fixated on me.
"My mom and dad…were both immigrants I suppose? Though my grandma had her in America' so she'd be an anchor baby I guess?" Frisk gestured silently for me to continue. "Dad wasn't a citizen…but he'd did get a greencard and stuff." I sighed at my lack of knowledge. "Honestly don't know much of how my parents met and fell in love…only that dad was a jai alai player when it was still popular in the States."
There was some recognition of the sport. "Oh! I heard that was really big in Spain, and it's goin through some revival right now."
Think my dad would like to hear about that…he since to really love his job until they let him go.
"Anyway, we moved between states a lot back then. Florida, Georgia, maybe Rhode Island? Finally ended up in Florida for a good while until the industry in the US died away and he and mom found another line of work."
"What was it?"
"Non emergency medical transport."
Frisk cocked an eyebrow. "The hell is that?"
"Basically an expensive van taxi for old or really fragile people. Pretty laborious job but it was good enough pay for now. Ended up spending the last…twoish years like that." As I observed Frisk, a frankly true opinion popped into my head.
"What? There something on my face." She patted her cheeks for good measure and I suppressed a laugh.
"No…just thinking that my mom would probably like you. You're pretty fun to be around. And a nice person."
Frisk scratched her chin at my sudden compliment, batting her lashes with her blink.
"Uh…thanks? That's sweet of you to say." I shrugged helplessly, not much I could say really. It was the truth.
"Now where was I?" I snapped my fingers, getting my train of thought back on track. "Right, so we moved to near the California border to be closer to family…ended up staying with them until we got back on our feet."
"How'd they do that?"
I smiled, reminiscing back to simpler times. "Well working for the company they did gave…either my mom or dad…? The idea start up a non emergency transport business. It folks a few years of…hard work…a falling out with my godparents…then having to start up a second time…"
"That sounds…pretty difficult." Frisk sounded sympathetic and I supposed she would be, she's likely the most empathetic human around here.
"Yeah it's all good now though. They have a high stable income, they've gotten into the flow of things."
Frisk's mouth curled into a smile. "Wow…they must be really happy together…"
My smile faded and so did hers…
"Not exactly…they divorced a while ago…"
Frisk turned a lighter shade of chocolate brown, horror at her mistake written all over her face.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't…" I poked her stomach, getting a light squeal from the usually more composed woman. She hopped back, showing hands like she was ready to fight.
I smirked, bemusement the main emotion coursing through me.
"It's fine, it was for the best really…I think they're a little happier now…"
"Right but sti—is that Kris? And is that blood on them?"
I instantly snapped to intention as Frisk's voice turned shrill and angry. It was as bad as I thought it was, there laying on the ground was Kris with what looked like a gallon of blood staining the ground.
Oh god…no no no…no.
Frisk nearly surged past me until I stood in her way, a thought coming to me…
Her looks were twisted into rage and I CHECKED Kris before she had a chance to kill me.
* Kris ATK 2 DEF 2.7
* Not dead, it's a prank bro!
"It's a prank Frisk…and now that I have a better look…that blood is ketchup." Frisk snapped out of her mama bear mode, and the tension in her body disappeared in an instant.
Man…Kris is really good at standing still…and I think I see a smirking Susie and a nervous Noelle dragging Berdly to…toward Kris.
Hah.
"H-Hey where the heck are you taking me!?" Berdly…was a lot uglier in person, not that I'll ever say that to his face but…you know.
"It's an e-emergency Berdly! Come quick…!" The little deer monster sounded nervous as all hell, and there was a hint of suspicion in the bird like monsters eyes before they faded.
I can imagine it would be hard to believe a kid as sweet as Noelle would do anything…mischievous.
"Yep…it's Kris, they need help…oh…oh no." The note of horror in Susie's voice was almost genuine, and Berdly fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
The moment he caught sight of Kris's prone body he let out the loudest most terrified shriek I had ever heard.
"WHAT THE HECK!" He scrambled back, only to be dragged back in by a "frantic" Susie. This scared him even more, and his speech degraded into blubbering gibberish.
"Please help…I know you learned some first aid so you should know healing magic right?" Berdly grumbled but quickly crumbled against the blond girl's puppy dog eyes.
"Fine…" his right wing arm shimmers green but right before he could do anything…Kris twitched. Berdly froze, and looked at his fellow preteens with question. "What exactly attacked…the human."
Susie itched the half of her neck, with a fake expression of horrified remembrance. "Well…it was this weird…creature, looked like a skeleton with rotten flesh…like from that human movie."
Berdly turned pale, and stepped back from Kris's "corpse" who had a wide smile on their face. Kris's eyes opened wide, and they lunged with open jaws, their teeth scraping just over Berdly's head feathers.
They held their hands in a classic zombie pose, showing off a creepy smile showing off all their teeth. Their fake blood dripping and gushing from…a fake bite mark…?
Kris limped forward, their eyes obscured by their messy hair. Their smirk widened, and they made eye contact with Berdly.
"I will eat your SOUL!"
Berdly ran at top speed with his wings in the air, not even looking back. "AHHH! NOOO!" Kris remained perfectly in position as Berdly became a small blue dot in the distance, vanishing into the crowds of monster and in the direction of the Waterfall section.
Frisk was making a funny face, a mix between angry, confused, or tickled…
Susie was the one to break the silence with a…
"HEHEHEHE!" The laugh came out distorted and strange, sounding more like a "HENG HENG," or an "AUGH AUGH!"
Kris's mask was the next to break. Their nose crinkled as a quiet snort escaped them, an almost silent laugh overshadowed by the foghorn that was Susie.
At first Noelle looked guilty, though soon enough a twitch started from her face and moved to the muscles of her face.
Noelle doubled over as the giggles got to her. A healthy intermediary between Kris's silence and Susie's booming laughter.
"That's…adorable. Kris has made some nice friends huh Frisk?" I nudged Frisk with my elbow, grinning the whole time.
Frisk?
She, didn't seem to be with us at the moment. Like she was looking right through them, and seeing…something else. Another jab and she was back to her normal self, her neutral lips pulling up into a grin.
"S-Sorry, I'm just remembering old times."
I understood, and patted her back hoping it would help. But there was another thing that could help.
"Well, we should greet the little trio right?" There was a glint in her eyes and I knew she was in.
Frisk took a deep breath and hollered. "HELLO THERE!"
The three kids flinched, panic on their faces once they noticed we were watching them. I waved at them, my lack of words enough for them.
Kris had turned a dark shade, whispering a tiny squeaky "H-Hello." Susie has growled out an unintelligible greeting while Noelle…was Noelle.
"Oh no you saw that?!" She bowed at a constant and consistent pace, apologies and beggings for forgiveness thrown into the air. "I'm so soorry!"
Two distinct laughs startled us and made even Susie blanch.
I turned around finding a not drunk Chara cocking a hip in sadistic amusement, accompanied by…a…
Well hello there.
A female lamia monster of some sort, with green hair and…the lower body of an electric eel. But she was certainly a looker, and it was hard to drop my gaze away from that b…err should probably cool it…don't want to be slapped or something.
Chara skipped the pleasantries after her initial fun, walking straight up to Frisk's face. She squared herself up before leaning in to whisper into Frisk's ear.
A tone of sincere apology was all I could pick up, and while Frisk rumbled disapproval it seemed they had made up for now. I'm sure they would start fighting again at some point but…for now all was peaceful.
The two monsters and one human had gone completely still, and once I made eye contact. Kris stuttered mechanically to life.
"SCATTER!" I dodged a giant weave of wet moss(?!) and blanched as the net smacked into the lamia's face with a wet splat.
Kris crashed straight through the wall, leaving an imprint of their form in the stone.
BOOM!
Susie unleashed an explosion that obscured our vision and started a coughing fit. Two different footsteps went in opposite directions, with the smallest having the signature click-flop of hooves…or hoove shaped shoes.
What the hell is this stuff?!
I coughed out the white powder, and taking a deep whiff of the substance I figured it out. Its c—
"Chalk?" Chara cried out.
Damn it.
"Damn kids!" The lamia tore the ball of moss from her face, tilting her head at the strange projectile. She looked at me for answers and I shrugged unsure of what to tell her.
I idled for a few seconds around the hole, picking out Kris's quiet breathing and occasional cute giggles of amusement. I could hear another sound deeper in the house, a high pitched whisper…
I'll leave their pathetic hiding skills out of mind for now. Should probably greet our guests.
I waved with a half smile. "Hey Chara. Who's your friend?"
Chara replies quickly and easily. "Hello…Uh this is…Lamidae…she's a Council member."
Council member…oh…oh…ohhhh…shoot.
I stared down…the monster, though it would be more accurate to say I stared up at the aquatic lamia.
So this is one of the monsters that keeps this place running huh? She's…not as impressive as I thought they would be…then again…the oppressive pressure of magical energy intruding on the world is intimidating enough.
Should probably explain…apparently wizards and monsters can sense magic pretty easily once they could use it. A sort of pressure…you could say…
And the pressure coming off of Lamidae was enormous…my gut told me she could take a couple MOABs to the face and walk it off.
Which was terrifying…
Whoever decided to marry her…I pity the poor fool…regardless of who they were.
"Hello." She waved with an open smile, exposing sharp pointed teeth. "You're an interesting little human aren't you." She slithered around me, closely observing me with mild interest.
"I suppose so…though I wouldn't know why'd you would think that."
"Maybe because you were willing to risk your life to save two monster children."
I frowned at the idea that I would leave children to die because they weren't human. The idea of such prejudice existing made me sick to even imagine…
They're still people…
There was amusement dancing in her eyes and I groaned.
"You're messing with me aren't you?" Her smirk was more than enough of an answer for me.
She bumped hips with Chara and I froze at how quickly she had moved…I had take my eyes off of her for less than a second.
"So this is the boy facing Mettaton in two days?"
I bristled in anger and replied viciously. "Hey! I'm 18, I'm an adu—wait what?" Her full sentence finally registered with me, sending me for a loop.
Chara looked worried. "You do know that you have to be on Mettaton's show right? That's kind of where you need to show off and all. It'll be the first fight between humans and monsters in centuries…technically." She muttered the last part out, and I felt anxiety grip my heart.
"Uhh…that's…bad…I thought it would be later…"
Frisk palmed her face and I gave her a glare. She hit her lip nervously and just talked. "Uhh…there was a letter in the mail…forgot to give it to you…" she looked incredibly apologetic.
"Riigggttt…" I sarcastically drawled out my reply and Frisk apologized with a mutter. I shook my head and let out a frustrated grumble. "So what's the show called?"
"That I would know." I quirked an eyebrow as Lamidae interjected with a confident bluster. "Mettaton has called it "The Murderous Automaton versus the Mysterious Human!" The woman threw a fist into the air, a rush of air following her lightning fast movements.
The three of us stared.
Lamidae blushed. "I'm a bit of a fan…that's all."
"I…still don't have much experience fighting monsters…and I'm pretty sure Papyrus and sans are both at work. Even if sans is a bit of a lazy bones."
"That's…sort of why I brought her here." Chara gestured in Lamidae's direction. "She used to be a Royal Guard back in the day and knows how to train people in magical combat. It'll be a good workout since it's Monday."
Right…almost forgot about that…but it's probably necessary anyhow. And besides Papyrus and sans, who I hadn't sparred with in days…Lamidae seemed like the best option.
"Okay sure…why not?" From the wall two small heads poked out. Kris has a curiosity look written over their face while a nervous Noelle's ears twitched in anticipation.
Guess having them as an audience will help get me ready for Wednesday.
I gripped the metal bench nervously, my heart beating in my chest as I heard the distant hiss of Lamidae as she set the room up for magical combat.
This was the same gym as usual, and again the rules had been enforced on the will of reality.
I had changed into a pair of loose black gym shorts and a plain white shirt of some unknown monster brand. If it had more glitter I'd guess a Mettaton one…but it isn't so…whatever.
The two kids were sitting patiently on another set of benches and accompanied by Chara and Frisk. Kris was silently kicking their feet, while Noelle was sweetly humming a cute little tune.
I flinched as massive weights were dropped from Lamidae's hands. Easily two thousand pounds of a steel like metal. Dropped and thrown like a carton of milk…
"So you ready…or…do you need a few minutes?" She smiled kindly and I nodded in the affirmative.
I still needed to get myself psyched up for the FIGHT. Lamidae slithered and flopped back, a deep rumble coming from her throat as she waited patiently.
I walked back over to the sears before coming to an abrupt spot as I watched the three living humans in front of me.
Kris was on the leftmost side, while Frisk sat firmly in the middle practically bouncing in place. To her right was Chara, who was drinking a bottle of water…
Kris…Frisk…Chara.
Kris, Frisk, And Chara…
Starts with K, starts with F, starts with C…
Oh my god…
"You know…I just realized your names first letters spell out KFC." Chara was mildly puzzled while both Frisk and Kris understood, if the way their eyes lit up was any indication.
Chara scrunched up her face in added befuddlement as the two other humans laughed, again Kris's laugh was silent. "The hell is a KFC? Some type of disease?"
I snorted and shook my head. "No this is what it is." I whipped out my phone, showing her a picture of the fast food joint…she understood rather quickly.
"Guess that'd make us the KFC gang ehh Chara buddy?" Frisk's tone was light and care free, and Noelle looked happy to be here…what the hell is that noise?
THUMP!
No seriously what…
THUMP!
The hell…?
I hopped 12 feet back in alarm, as Susie burst through the door with a razor sharp grin.
"Did I miss it?! I'm not going to miss a human getting the shit kicked out of them!" My eyebrows twitched at the casual reference to reckless violence against my person.
She's not for making good impression huh?
And still freakishly tall for a thirteen year old…seriously she's 6'2 that can't be normal right?
Right?
"Times up human!" My sparring partner hollered out, electricity surging across the length of her fishy serpentine body. Susie let out a whoop of barely restrained bloodlust and I wondered what the hell kind of monster was she?
I stepped forward ignoring the tiny voice telling me this was a terrible idea.
"Good luck!" Frisk shouted out some encouraging words, and Kris gave a thumbs up.
Suppose I don't have much of a choice then…
"So uh…" I felt some bashfulness set in, as a pulse of nervous energy passed through me. "We're going to start right?" I asked her
She smirked and music flooded in…it was…
—Battle! Legendary Pokemon-Instrumental Mix(BW) by Vetrom—
"I'll start us off slow, take out the weapon you're hiding." I stretched out my right hand and with a release of air and a shimmer of light, a heavy magic axe materialized around my grip.
I stared straight at Susie's with a wide smirk, and she sulked while Noelle comforting her.
Check…
* Lamidae ATK 24 DEF 20
* Using roughly 27% of her power
I sighed…of course she is. And that reminds me of Frieza…not sure why.
I eyed Chara in the back, the girl having shuffled her feet and dropped her knees into…a stance of some sort…I strengthened my hearing, making out the whisper…
Structural Analysis…
I let my mind and instincts guide my uncoordinated body, adjusting Chara's form to my own body.
"You ready?" Lamidae asked with a toothy smirk.
"Yes I a—!"
I wildly blocked the two chopping arms that nearly came down on my neck, the handle straining against incredible force.
I hadn't even see her move…
Her eye twitched, and I bit back a shout as I took a bitch slap from her tail, electrical current flowing through my vulnerable body.
Lamidae looked relaxed and calm, her eyes following my every movement. "Not too impressive kid. I thought you helped destroy that beast…yet you can't beat a civil worker?"
Another twitch was all the warning I had…
I dodged left, five electro balls detonating where I was once. Three more whizzed past me, and I lashed out with a concentrated axe flung beam of lightning.
It was harmlessly absorbed into her body and I sighed.
Right…shock an electric eel monster with electricity…genius…
"That…was probably a fluke…also I almost died like twice! I had to gather up energy to actually bring it down you know!"
She shrugged and…oh dear mother of fucking god!
Dozens of electro-balls came in like bullets, I was swinging and leaping from spot to spot, the spaces between being brief refuges for myself. I couldn't even begin to retaliate, her sheer speed and power beyond me.
That I could dodge her bullets at all was a miracle…yet there was excitement running through my veins and guiding my movements.
I…I…need to attack!
Plasma Axe Blast!
As I swung, dozens of plasma bullets flew. But with a smirk on her face Lamidae coiled up her body and leaped. Two struck home and I grinned as she flinched…
And in the air she was vulnerable…
SSSSSHHH!
I rolled as an uncountable number of writhing vines emerged, shattering the concrete floor with pure kinetic force.
I gaped as Lamidae remained in the air, held aloft by the vine magic she was using. She pointed a finger, amusement dancing in her eyes before uttering two words.
"Lightning missile."
With a loud thump, an absolute mission macross massacre flew towards me…
Oh shoot…fuck! REINFORCEMENT X1.25 AND SPEED BURST X2!
I lost control of all movements, my ears ringing as I broke the sound barrier for the first time. My magic propelled me toward my shocked target, at my current speeds she couldn't dodge. Her eyes only just widening…
BAMM!
Oh sweet baby…something! My head snapped back as Lamidae instinctually back slapped me with full force, my body crumpling back to the ground.
Bouncing three times onto the harsh, cold concrete floor.
A wheeze escaped me, as Lamidae continued to hang high in the air where I could not reach her.
"Not bad, but still not good enough! Let's see how fast you learn human."
Within the blink of an eye I was surrounded by a forest of whipping slashing vines, and I could heard her mocking laughter.
I couldn't reach her with an axe…they're not exactly known for range…but…I have magic that can fix that don't I?
I smirked.
Chainwhip…
A long purplish-black metal chain wrapped itself around my wrists, snaking up and around the end of my weapon's shaft. I injected raw cutting justice within its blade.
"We'll see you crazy eel…!"
I swung…my SOUL pounding in my chest.
SWISH!
I heard a girlish shriek, as the entire forest was cut away in an instant. I wrapped some integrity around the blade and directed it.
I had Lamidae in my trap, the axe spinning around her waist and slashing her across the stomach before settling around her neck.
"Uh…truce?" She mumbled the question and I pulled gleefully.
With a resounding crash she was brought down. A massive crater forming where I had dropped her, dust obscuring Lamidae's voluptuous serpentine form.
"Did…I do it?"
"AQUA STREAM IMPACT!" If going deaf wasn't an indication of my failure, getting tackled by 600 pounds of female monster certainly was.
I blanked out for a brief moment, dimly noting my crashing against a defensive barrier protecting the audience. I felt flabbergasted as the KFC gang(plus two) waved tiny flags with my name on them.
How? Where?
Wait wasn't I doing something?
"HUMAN! Hear me!" I rolled my eyes at her sudden nerdy dramatics. Though I suppose channeling Mettaton makes sense. "I will defeat you if it's the last thing I do!" She lunged and I followed suite with a grin on my face.
Let's do this!
RING RING! RING RING!
We crashed into each, though I soon bounced off of her chest and into the barrier. The music cut off, and with a yelp I dived toward the ground.
A sudden displacement of air hit me my face, and I found a muscular arm wrapped around my waist. I limply sagged, exhaustion suddenly setting in.
What had happened?
I lifted my neck up, wrapping my arms around the person who had caught me so I could get my footing.
Hello Chara…
She smiled meekly, and I dropped down about a foot, still hanging on to her shirt until the dizziness faded.
Lamidae looked incredibly frustrated, a smartphone like device mumbling out a loud booming voice. Whatever conversation was going on was heard only by its recipient.
"Yes…I'll be there…no I don't know…" was all I could make out from where I was, not bothering to reinforce my senses. There wasn't much of a point… Lamidae hung up with a ticked off huff.
"You have to leave?" I came to the most obvious conclusion.
She sagged, clearly she had been looking to relax for the day. And I could feel for her really.
Even if her way to relax was beating someone's face in…
But it had been exciting. There was a real rush every time I let loose with my magic.
"Yes…there's been a particularly onerous case of vandalism. A puzzle near the CORE was destroyed…"
I blinked, the idea of a puzzle being damaged so close to such a vital section of the Underground not boding well to me.
"Oh…"
She brushed against my shoulder, giving me a light smile. "Perhaps next time we'll go all out."
I shrugged, feeling a competitive spirit possess me. "Perhaps we will."
She moved rapidly and decisively, whispering words I could just make out…
"The two of should quit holding back…it isn't fair to him." With those last words Lamidae walked…slithered out of the room and into the city.
"The hell does that mean?"
The two humans with SOULS stained red gazed at each other and then at me.
"Well…" Chara drawled out and I leaned forward for an explanation.
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a hint of a headache coming on. I stared down the two lovely women who looked unusually sheepish. Frisk biting her lip, and with her hands behind her back.
While Chara was biting her lip, and gripping her…her…skirt rather tightly.
…
W-Where was I again?
Right…
"So let me get this straight here. The two of you have been holding back? Because that sounds like something important to mention." I tapped my foot and tsked in feigned disappointment. "Also why?"
Chara shrugged with puffed burning cheeks. "Mhmm…? I guess…it never occurred to us? We haven't exactly had a time to relax in…ages…we've been a little out of it…"
Ahh…I think I can understand their plight…but still…I have some time to catch up with them. And that might make the two week timeline a little difficult.
"You're worries about the whole breaking the barrier situation right?" Frisk had the right idea.
"Yeah…But you don't need to…I'd say…roughly a doubling in your control and strength should be enough. Gaster's devices will be able to translate enough of your power…really…" Chara reassured me, leaning against the kitchen table top while periodically taking a bite out of an apple.
Kinda made her look like an asshole…which is an automatic sin.
Heh.
"I guess." I lifted my shoulders, and a final thought struck me as I realized it didn't look like Chara was leaving. "Also…you're planning to sleepover since Muffet's still pissed then?"
Her stammering was enough to confirm my speculation for myself.
"H-How?"
"It just made sense? I can sleep on the couch if you like. We don't have an extra bed and I don't mind…"
"No no I'll sleep on the couch. It's your home…house…apartment?" I shrugged, and then said no.
"You're our guest it'd be rude to…" I trailed off at the big grin on Frisk's face.
She stepped between us, with twinkling eyes. With an amused lilt to her voice she cut us off. "You know…you could always share a bed. I bet that would be nice."
Chara showed Frisk her own neutral face of displeasure, and I added a light pinch to Frisk's thigh for good measure. The high pitched yelp of Frisk was music to my ears.
"Nope." Was my denial of her…suggestion.
"Bu—!"
"Frisk…can sleep in my bed, it's pretty big." Kris blushed as we glanced over at them.
I…had completely forgotten they were still there.
"We should probably take those two home right?" I asked Frisk and Chara while pointing toward the two monster children.
"Yep…we should go do that." Was Chara's mechanical reply.
"Yeah let's…"
(3rd POV)
The sleeping Underground was cold and quiet, most of its inhabitants having restful sleep. All but one…
There a certain red headed young adult turned and tumbled in her sleep, a light trail of red stars emanating from her closed shut eyes.
"No…stop…it…stay…away…from…her…don't touch her! You…bastard…" at the last second her ruby eyes snapped awake, a strong hate filled emotion lying within them.
That old hate faded out replaced by a basal and deep sadness and with a sigh she lifted herself up, throwing her creamy legs off the side of her borrowed bed.
Her bare feet momentarily shivered against the freezing floor, yet she ignored the cold nonetheless. Her unfocused eyes glance around for movement of any kind, a sense of foreboding and danger putting her on edge.
"Is…there someone there?" She asked. But only cold silence answered her. The human started shaking her head, brushing back her messy red bangs.
"No…it's just you Chara…you should go back to bed and sleep. And…stop talking to herself…err…" the redhead took a final scan of the room before hiding under the covers, the jitters from her dream affecting Chara.
Despite her experience, she never noticed the distorted light outside her window.
Never noticed as a small tiny golden flower glared hatefully, with chains upon chains strapped to its glassy roots and stem.
Within seconds the only evidence was the hole left behind by its burrowing and the angry X torn into the wall.
There was not much time left…the first Phase was coming to its end.
FLOWEY would make sure of it…